Electropad



F. J. HART ELECTROPAD Feb. 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1949 F. J. HART Feb. 2, 1954 ELECTROPAD Filed Oct. 21, 1949 lflillllilll!!! llili hi iilha il l l I INVENTOR/ I}, dow/U 4 Sheets-Sheet. 2

F. J. HART ELECTROPAD Feb. 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 21, 1949 ATTDR/Vf'Y F. J. HART ELECTROPAD Feb. 2, 1954 4- Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001:. 21, 1949 INVENTQELv Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED? srArEs AT EINT OFFICE! trimic Medical Foundation;

Sain- Francisco;

Calif a corporaitioirmf California Application october zi, 1949, Serial No; 122,783" 12 -Clainis2- (c1. 12'8 24.1)

vid' a 'm'ethod'bi assemblfof an elet padfwi h respect' to" a flexible fluid circiila-ti'. g enclo's'i cover; whereby a coolingffluidmay' beciiciila (1 around 'the pad 'whiie themed --is"'-in use during by body treatments.

A-still'- further object'of myinventioir'is to providenovel features of 'constiuetioir'of afieii fl ible electrie pad inel'udi'ng grouped" se'tions of" an" electric nding shaped.- to ap'pljr amiassa' actionto' bees tissues amost effective and cienfimannerb Other and further objects of my ve'fitiirf residin' a construction of electric pan asset forth more fully" inthe-speci'fica'tions "hereinafter following} by referen'ce-to the accompan ing drawinga in which iv Figures 13 aperspective viewof an electric" pad constructedin accordance with rnvinven tion; and'find-icating'the manner of electrically connecting the padtoan'eleetrcial"power source? Fig. 2 is aper'speeti've scheiiiatic view' of the eleetrie winding employed in the electric pad 'of my' invention: is a perspective View of-acover" of fire resi'stingmate rialf311th as asbestos, with= 50 in whiten-I enclose -theeleetrie' winding of Fig. 2,@ th'eview" being" partiallt brokenaway and shown in section" for" illustrating" the "heat in's'nlati'on structure-of u cover, anti-the"ViWShoWiiigthe' asbestoscover'flsefdi-e it-isseweu across the "end 2 .6 thereof'for enclosing 'the'eleetric': winding lfig. is-a" perspective view of'a" plastic bag whi'oh: is"

used to enclose theasbestos cover'of Fig; 3; the

view being partiallybroken away to illustrate the'insulation properties of the plastic bag; and being illustrated prior to I a' transverse sewing" operation at the'endof theplastiabag fares closing the asbestos cover within thejba i Fig; 5 is a perspective vie'wof'a heat confining cover or wool blanket which" I employ a'round'the; plastic bag of Fig; 4; Fig. 6"is ap'erspective view of the outer removable cover for the" pad, which cover is formed from readily washable" and launderable material for sanitary use over'" the padbf my'inventicn; Fig; '7 is a curve diagram illustrating the' characteristidof the pad ofrri'y invention over extended periods o'f tixrieor use; and" showing the" slow 'heat ris'e incident to ex-" tended. use of the pad; Fig; 8 is acurvdia'grarn" showing the electrical characteristics of the padj 9 is a perspective View of a modified'form of' padembodying my invention, in which cooling" means are 'employed'for substantially reducing" the temperature at which the pad is applied to:

the body; Fig. 10 is a'longitudinal sectional v ew;-

taken through the form of pad'illustrated'in Fig; 9; and illustrating'the as'soiziatic'm 0f the heating and cooling means within the pad, the view being taken substantially on line I B l B of] Fig. 13; Fig. 11 is a top-plan view" of the inside fixibl'erubber bag WhlChGIlClCISS the winding in thefor'm' of myinv e'ntion illustratedfifiFigsj' 9-10;- and showing particularly'the relationship of thein'side and outside bags; Fig. 12 is "a'trans verse sectional view taken substantially onlinef circulating space between the inner and outer flexible rubber bags in theforzn" of my" inven-' tion illustrated in Figs; 9'-11';' and'F-igi 13 isa longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallypn line I3'-=l3' of Fig. '11.

My invention isdirected to 'a"method of con"- unit oon's'ists of a total. number of aptroxi'rqate yf 2500 turns of number 29 insulated copper wire;

The coil has an input of 205 milliamperes, and operates from a power supply source of 110 volts, 50-60 cycles. The electrical characteristic of the coil is such that a relatively constant, vibratory movement between groups of multiturn laced windings in accordance with the frequency of the exciting alternating current is established with relatively slow temperature rise. The pad of my invention is readily distinguished from conventional electrical heating pads or blankets by the fact that the pad of my invention is intended for massage purposes rather than heat treatment purposes. Any heat rise in the device is purely incidental, and in one form of my invention is positively compensated and reduced by surrounding the unit with fluid circulating means by which the unit is cooled.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character I designates the winding which is formed in groups of sections of wire which, in the example of my invention illustrated herein, consisted of a total number of approximately 2500 turns of number 29 copper wire, the groups or sections being indicated at la, lb, lc, Id, 1e, l and lg, which are disposed in coplanar relation in substantially elliptical contour. The groups or sections of wire are maintained in flexible relation by means of substantially radially extending lacing cords or textile members, which I have represented at 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 22', 27', 27c and 2Z. These lacing cords are interwoven between the groups or sections of the winding and have their inside loops confined by an interconnecting cord 3 laced under tension criss-cross of the center of the inside group or section of said winding, and their outside loops interconnected by a confining cord 4. A flexible fiat winding is thus provided which may be shaped to the contour of the body which is to be treated. The sections or groups of windings la, lb, lc, ld. le, If and lg are mutually displaceable within the limit of the interwoven connections 2a-2l, and vibrate at low frequency with respect to each other upon excitation of the windings from alternating current. The lacing cords arranged as explained herein are essential to the practical operation of the device of my invention as the vibratory movement of the groups or sections of the turns of wire is such that omission of the lacing results in misshaping of the electropad as the groups or sections of turns of Wire work themselves into a twisted mass in the course of only a short period of use under the reaction forces resulting from the influence of the alternating and opposing magnetic fields. The lacing cords are flexible and are formed from insulation material. The cords exercise a suflicient degree of restraint on the groups or sections of turns of wire to prevent distortion or misshaping of the groups or sections of the turns of wire and maintain the said groups or sections of turns of wire substantially coplanar and yet allow shaping of the electropad to the contour of parts of the body where contact treatment with an irregular surface of a portion of the body is desired. Thus a massaging action is applied to the part of the body in contact with the outside cover of the pad immediately over the vibrating sections or groups of the winding.

The electrical circuit connection to the winding is established by means of the flexible electrical conductor 5, the end of which is fastened in fixed position to the outermost groups or sections of the winding la and lb by means of fastening member 6 which is appropriately taped around the groups or sections of the winding la and lb. The outside of the coil is connected through conductor 5a with the outside turn of the group or section of the winding la. The several sections or groups of the coil are connected electrically in series one with the other, terminating at the inside turn of the group or section of the coil lg. The innermost turn of the group or section of the coil lg is connected to the thermal cutout switch represented schematically at l, which connects in circuit with the conductor 5b leading to the input circuit conductors 5. The thermal cutout switch I limits the temperature rise in the winding, precluding any increase in temperature beyond a predetermined temperature for which the thermal cutout switch is designed and set.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1-6, the groups of coils or sections constituting the winding are housed within the fire resisting or heat insulating flexible cover, which may be formed from asbestos and the like, as shown at 8 in Fig. 3. The asbestos cover in Fig. 3 has been shown with the end open prior to the lateral or transverse stitching operation at the end of the cover. After winding l is slipped longitudinally into the asbestos cover 8, the cover 8 is stitched along the end 8a thereof for closing the end of the asbestos cover around the winding l, with a sufilcient aperture for the passage of the conductor 5. The winding thus encased in the flexible asbestos cover 8 is then inserted into the flexible plastic bag represented at 9 in Fig. 4. The flexible plastic bag has been shown with an open end prior to stitchin along a seam indicated at Sat therein for encasing the asbestos cover of winding l except for an outlet for the electrical conductorsli. The winding I thus encased in the flexible asbestos cover 8 and the flexible plastic bag 9 is ready for insertion into the heat confining cover or woolblanket l0 shown in Fig. 5. The heat confining cover or wool blanket I0 is provided with inside detachable snap fasteners represented at llla for attachably maintaining the heat confining cover or wool blanket attachably and detachably in position over the asbestos and plastic bag covered winding l. The winding I, thus encased in the asbestos cover 8, the plastic bag 9 and the wool blanket I0, is then inserted into the outer cloth cover of cotton or other launderable material or linen, shown in Fig. 6, which is readily removable for sanitary purposes and interchangeable with a fresh cover. To render the outer cover I I readily attachable and detachable, I provide a transverse row of snap fasteners represented at I la on the end flap of the cover I I, meeting with complementary parts of the fasteners mounted on the cover II. The electrical conductors 5 which extend outside of the several plies of covering material, include an electrical switch l2 in V circuit therewith, and a suitable plug connector I4, for attachment to the source of power, such as 110 volts, -60 cycles alternating current.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a characteristic heating curve for the electrical winding, from which it will be seen that even after a period of three hours from the time of application of the exciting source, the temperature rise is appreciably below The magnetic flux which produces the vibratory action between the groups of turns of the winding during this time, however, remains substantially constant as represented in the curves shown in Fig. 8. The ordinates in the curves of Fig. 8 represent the magnetic field strength inR. M. S. vgausses, while the abscissa representthe distance from the centergof "the windingiin inches. "Curve A shows the distribution of :the magnetic field longitudinally of the electromagnetic winding I on the major axis .A-'A' indicated in the graphtothe right of the curves; while curve B shows the magnetic flux distribution along the transverse or minor axis of "the winding I, that is, axis B-'B of the winding. The relative constant or flat magnetic characteristic of the winding is well represented by curves A and B.

- Inasmuch as the temperature of the winding must be 'maintained at .a minimum while the magnetic fleld producing the vibratory effects is maintained at a maximum I have developedthe form of myinventionillustrated in Figs. 9-113 for positively reducing the temperature of the winding by compensating for tendency of any increase in temperature of thewinding. In this form. of -my invention the winding I is encased in'a fluid-tight bag or container I5, which I have designated as the inside flexible rubber bag. The flexible rubber bag I5 .is formed in two parts Vulcanized at their outer peripheries, represented at I511 in Figs. 11 and 12, with the electrical conductors 5 provided with rubber covered insulation and vulcanized at 1% at their entrance into the inside flexible rubber bag I 5, forming a fluidtight joint. The top and bottom flexible walls of the inside flexible rubber bag I5 are provided with a multiplicity of. longitudinally extending outwardly projecting flexible rubber ribs I5c and I 5d. The ribs I50 and I5d extend inspaced relation substantially parallel with eachother and I form longitudinal passageways or channels for .fluid over the surface of the inside flexible rub- .ber. bag I5. An outside flexible rubber bag It is formed around the inside flexible rubber bag I5 by means Iofxa pairof enclosing flexible rubber complementary bag portions shown at Ito and I512. The complementary flexible rubber bag portions Ilia and Ifib are connected. atthe .peripherles thereof,.as.shown .at I1 by. means of a vulcanizedjoint. .The vulcanized joint I! seals theentrance way It; over the electrical conductors 5, and also seals the fluid intake connection I9 and the fluid outlet connection.20, at opposite ends of the outsideflexible rubber bag, asshown in Figs. 9, 10, .11, and 13. ,I5 and I8 constitute jac'ketssurrounding the winding I in spaced relation. The fluid intake connection tube .2I Which-ls vulcanized into the outside rubber bag at I9, electricallyconnects with the. flexiblertube 22 leading to the fluid intake connection. The fluid discharge connection includes tube23 sealed into, the fluid outlet connection .20 andconnected to the flexible .tube -24 leading to the waste connection. The fluid entering thelfluid intake connection 2! is distributed over the end surface of the inside rubber .bag I5 and passes longitudinally between the ribs I50 and 15d to the .discharge end of the rubber bag around both the top and bottom surfaces of the inside rubber bag .I5,,thereby cooling the winding I and compensatin-g for ,any tendency toward increase of temperature therein.

The balance-of theconstruction of the pad is as explained in connection with Figs. 1-6, that is, the outside rubber bag I6 is encased in the asbestos cover 8, which is in turnencasedwithin the plastic bag 9, the plasticbag Iibeing surrounded by the wool blanket I0 and :the entire combination being encased within the sanitary cover II. Suitable passageways are. provided 6 throughveach of these plies for jthe fluidintake connection tubell, the fluid; .discharge connection tube 23 andthegelectrical conductors 5.

The ribs I50. and 15d serve to space the inside rubber ibag I5 from the outside rubber bag-ldso that clear-passageways are maintained for the flow of the cooling fluid even :under conditions where a person liesy onrthc bags and considerably distorts the-pad. The number of passageways extending longitudinallyof the padis sufficient .to insuregthat at;least some .of the passages will be maintainedclear for the circulation of the-fluid even. under :distortedconditions ,of the pad.

I have 'found :the pad of my invention highly beneficial in the treatment of the body. 'The massaging action :towhich the parts of thebody contacted by th -pad issubjected has proven stimulative and helpful to the healthf-ulrbuilding :upiof tissue. The portability of the form of my; invention illustrated in Figs. l-'6-renders this form of-=my inventionzhighly :useful and convenient:-for personal useby a patient without'supervision. .The form or-my invention illustratedin Figs. .1043: requires no :more. attention than -is usually necessary in the conventional use-of a hotwater bagor douche.

I have gfound the pad of my inventionparticularlysuitable as a pillow on which th ;=patient may lie and receive the'beneficial effected the vibratory action. The .diiferences in 'the pad' of my invention as compared with the conventional electrical heating pad, canbewmore 'thorou hly appreciated when it'is realizedthatrthe vibratory eifects of the pad of my inventionidominatelany incidental electrical; heating which accompanies the excitation ofthe winding. The groups orpsections of the winding in the structureofmyinvention have-mutually-magnetic reactive ef ects, one with respect to another atthe frequency of the applied alternating current. A vibratory'action at low frequency is produced between fthe several groups or-sections of the winding-as thecurrent is appliedto the -coi1;circuit; and these vibratory movements are efiectively utilized "in the application'of the device of my-inventionformassaging the parts of the :body against which the pad makes contact.

The particular method of lashing the electrical conductors 5-whichcarry the supply current to the winding I is very important, as in a .device of this :kind it is notunusual for a severe strain to be :Placed upon the electrical conductors 5 which develops a pull .on the lead-in :conductors 5a and, :51). For this reason the lead-in conductors5a and 5b are-looped upon themselves across several sectionsof theagroupsof windings and are fastened at positions which I have-indicated at'5a'and 5a"-,and.at 5b andiib" :around certain of the-groups of thezsections of the winding in the mannershown. Aistrainplacedzupon the supply lead vis thus more evenly distributed over .the entirewindingand 1065 not tend :to pull out theelectrical supply dead -,or toiold or bend the winding. The 'fa'stenings :5a' and r5a".:and 5b and5b" are :sodesigned that these :fastem ings will give waybefore thewinding distorts and accordingly the winding-willnot be injured or damaged. It will be observed thatithere 'issufiicient slack provided in the electrical conductors 5aand 51) by reason of the-loops therein to take up undue strainscaused by excessive pullsonthe electrical conductors 5.

While I have described ,myri-nvention, in certain oi its-preferred embodiments; Irealizethatmodiifications may be made and I desire that-itbeunderstood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A flexible pad for application to the body comprising a multiplicity of sections of electromagnetic windings concentrically related one with respect to another with the turns thereof electrically connected in series, a multiplicity of flexible textile members interwoven around said sections of electromagnetic windings and disposed transversely of the direction of the turns of said windings for maintaining said sections of windings normally in coplanar relation and mutually displaceable within confined limits with respect to each other, a flexible rubber jacket enclosing said windings, a second flexible rubber jacket enclosing the aforementioned flexible rubber jacket but spaced therefrom for forming circulatory paths for cooling fluid between said jackets, means extending through said last mentioned jacket for introducing and discharging cooling fluid into the space between said jackets and means extending through both of said jackets for applying electrical energy to said windings from a source of alternating current for exciting said windings to produce a magnetic field and an incidental heat field where said magnetic field predominates said heat field while efi'ecting movement of said sections of electromagnetic windings for producing a massaging action against the portion of the body to which said device is applied.

2. A flexible pad as set forth in claim 1' in which one of said jackets includes a multiplicity of substantially parallel extending spaced ribs maintaining said jackets in spaced relation while defining the fluid circulating channels between said jackets.

3. A flexible pad as set forth in claim 1 in which said first mentioned jacket includes flexible rubber ribs extending therefrom and establishing contacting relation with said second mentioned jacket for positively spacing said jackets while maintaining channels for the circulation of cooling fluid between said jackets. V

4. A flexible pad for application to the body comprising a relatively flat multiple section electromagnetic winding, a fluid-tight flexible jacket surrounding said winding and deformable to accommodate the device to the shape of the body, a second fluid-tight flexible jacket surrounding the aforesaid fluid-tight flexible jacket and spaced therefrom to form a fluid circulating path between said flexible jackets, inlet and discharge connections sealed in, said second mentioned fluid-tight flexible jacket and terminating in the space between said fluid-tight jackets, a sealed connection for electrical conductors extending through both of said flexible jackets and establishing electrical connection with said multiple section electromagnetic winding from a source of alternating current, the sections of said multiple section electromagnetic winding being mutually displaceable for effecting a massaging action of the portion of the body to which the device is applied, and a heat insulation covering surrounding said last mentioned jacket.

5. A flexible pad as set forth in claim 4 which also includes a plastic cover surrounding said heat insulation covering, and a plurality of cloth covers surrounding said plastic cover, said cloth-covers both being detachably removable replaceable.

6. A device of the class described comprising a multiplicity of individual groups of multi-turn electrical windings electrically connected in series and energizable from a source of alternating current and normally disposed in coplanar relation, one group of windings centered within an adjacent group of windings, textile lacing cords interwoven with said individual groups of windings and disposed transversely of the direction of the turns thereof for normally maintaining said individual groups of windings in a relatively flat plane, one centered within the other, while allowing said individual groups of windings to vibrate relative to each other under the reaction of the alternating magnetic fields established therearound, for imparting a massaging action to an adjacent body substantially in surface contact therewith, said interwoven textile lacing cords terminating in loops externally and internally of the limits of said groups of windings, a confining cord interconnecting said outside loops and a separate tension cord interconnecting said inside loops for maintaining the shape and contour of said groups of windings under conditions of vibratory movement thereof.

'7. A device of the class described as set forth in claim 6 in which the separate confining cord that interconnects the inside loops of said lacing cords extends criss-cross of the center of the inside group of said windings,

8. A device of the class described as set forth in claim 6, in which said individual groups of multi-turn electrical windings have a substantially elliptical contour and wherein said textile lacing cords extend substantially radially thereof and in which the separate confining cord that interconnects the inside loops of said lacing cords is stretched at angles with respect to the major axis of the elliptically contoured electrical windings which are greater than the angles between any one of said textile lacing cords and the said major axis of the elliptically contoured electrical windings for maintaining said windings in substantially coplanar relationship.

9. A flexible pad for application to the body comprising a multiplicity of sections of electrical windings disposed in substantially ellipti cal arrangement in coplanar relation and electrically connected in series, a plurality of flexible cords extending substantially radially with respect to said sections of windings and enveloping and mechanically interconnecting said sections, said flexible cords being interconnected adjacent their inner ends and also interconnected adjacent their outer ends by separate loop lacing members for maintaining said sections under normal condition in a relatively flat plane, while allowing relative displacement of said sections with respect to each other for efiecting a massaging action with respect to the body and means connected to the windings adapted to be connected to an electrical circuit for energizing the pad.

10. A flexible pad comprising amultiplicity of individual groups of multi-turn electrical windings electrically connected in series and disposed in coplanar relation, textile cords interwoven with said individual groups of windings and disposed transversely of the direction of the turns thereof for flexibly maintaining said individual groups of windings in a relatively flat plane while allowing said individual groups of windings to vibrate relative to each other; a flexible jacket surrounding said windings and forming a flow path for a multiplicity of chan-- nels of cooling fluid around said windings but out of contact therewith for compensating for tendencies of said windings to increase in temperature and means connected to the windings adapted to be connected to an electrical circuit for energizing the windings.

11. A flexible pad comprising a multiplicity of individual groups of multi-turn electrical windings electrically connected in series and disposed in coplanar relation, textile cords interwoven with said individual groups of windings and disposed transversely of the direction of the turns thereof for flexibly maintaining said individual groups of windings in a relatively fiat plane while allowing said individual groups of windings to vibrate relative to each other; heat insulation means enclosing all of said groups of windings, a pair of conductors extending through one end of said heat insulation means, and secured to at least one of said groups of windings, said pair of conductors being fanned out into separate leads and said leads being individually looped upon themselves and secured at spaced positions to certain of said groups of windings in advance of the electrical connection thereof with said windings to provide sufiicient slack therein whereby pull strains applied to said pair of electrical conductors are expended through the slack in said looped portions of said conductors attached to said groups of windings, said conductors being adapted to be connected to an electrical circuit for energizing said windings.

12. A flexible pad comprising a flat flexible electrical winding constituted by a multiplicity 10 of sections of electrical windings connected in series, a multiplicity of flexible members enveloping said sections of said windings and disposed transversely of the direction of the turns thereof and interconnecting said sections of electrical windings and allowing mutual movement between said sections while normally maintaining said sections in substantially coplanar arrangement for producing a massaging action to the part of the body against which the pad is applied and a multiplicity of jackets enclosing said windings, the innermost jacket being formed from fire-resisting material, the adjacent jacket being formed from plastic material, the next adjacent jacket being formed from wool, and the last of said jackets being formed from cloth constituting a sanitary cover for said pad.

FRED J. HART.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,785 Muller June 9, 1903 796,533 Rayner Aug. 8, 1905 1,158,834 Parker Nov. 2, 1915 1,967,674 Knapp July 24, 1934 2,431,525 Vecchio Nov. 25, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 716,954 France Oct. 13, 1934 OTHER REFERENCES Electrical Review for August 5, 1893, pages 304-5. 

